SPRG Seminars
April 5, 2011:
"Anisotropic EM-fields in solar wind turbulence "
Robert Wicks,
Imperial
There are currently a multitude of theories describing the possible physics of Alfvenic turbulence in the solar wind. Starting from simple Kolmogorov and Kraichnan arguments these have developed into the ideas of critical balance and dynamic alignment. These more recent theories postulate that the turbulence will cause anisotropy, that is different levels of power in fluctuations and different scalings of the power relative to the magnetic field direction. I will present a summary of recent results showing that turbulence in the solar wind is anisotropic using magneitc field and particle data. I will finish by showing a speculative attempt to measure anisotropy of the electric field using the THEMIS spacecraft which may have measured parallel electric fields which could be responsible for particle acceleration and scattering.